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STATEHOUSE INSIDER
ISSUES & INSIGHTS FROM THE LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE SCENE
AT THE TIME of this writing the General Assembly is completing final action on all bill
introductions. The IAPD/IPRA Legislative Platform has fared well this session with most initiatives moving
forward or expecting to do so before adjournment.
After a resounding vote in the House, the Illinois Land Preservation Initiative (ILP) is on a temporary
hold in the Senate Rules Committee. The Park District Youth Program License Plates has been amended onto
House Bill 293 with a number of similar proposals. Senate Bill 1171 is poised for passage in the Illinois
House of Representatives.
Final adjournment is scheduled for May 25, although some legislative pundits are skeptical due to
the large number of issues still to be resolved. Currently, the House of Representatives only has 254
Senate bills to be considered and the Illinois Senate only has 283 House bills for consideration. This is a
far cry from the 1,523 Senate bills and 3,623 House bills that were introduced at the beginning of the
session. This is directly attributed to the constraints of the leadership in both the House and Senate rather than the lack of good legislative initiatives.
For more details, see the IAPD
Web site at www.ILparks.org.
BILL WATCH
Bicyclists
SB 1014 (Rouschenberger-Dillard-Jocobs-Cullerton-
Madigan, L.)
The Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act is amended by adding Section 3-111 as
follows: Neither a local public entity nor a public employee is liable for any injury to a bicyclist if the liability is based
on the existence of a condition of a segment or portion of a street or highway that has been improved for bicycle use
unless the local public entity or public employee is guilty of willful and wanton misconduct proximately
causing the injury. For the purposes of this Section, a street or highway has been improved for bicycle use when: (1) it has been designated with appropriate signs and (2) it contains one of the following features: (i) additional lane width, (ii) a paved shoulder, (iii) a striped bicycle lane, or (iv) a marked crossing of a bicycle trail. 4/4/01 Passed out of Senate with a vote of 54-0-2. Last Action: 5/3/01 Referred to House Judiciary Committee.
Bonding Authority
SB 1171 (Philip)
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that "debt service
extension base" means, for park districts (i) that were first subject to this Law in 1991 or 1995 and (ii) whose extension for the 1994 levy year for the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the park district
without referendum (but not including excluded non-referendum bonds) was less than 51 % of the amount for the 1991 levy year constituting an extension for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by the park district without referendum (but not including excluded non-referendum bonds). Provides that "excluded non-referendum bonds" means (i) bonds authorized for certain aquarium and museum projects, (ii) double-barrelled bonds,
and (iii) refunding obligations issued to refund or to continue to refund obligations initially issued pursuant to
referendum. 3/29/01 Passed out of Senate with a vote of 37-12-6. Last Action: 5/3/01 Referred to House Revenue
Committee.
Consolidation
HB 98 (Lang)
New Act; the Local Government Consolidation Commission Act; creates 15-member commission on local
government consisting of 5 Senators and 5 Representatives and 5 citizens (chosen by the governor); defines such a
study to make recommendation to reduce number of local governments and increase efficiency and economy; report findings to general assembly by 12/31/2002. Last Action: 4/6/01 Referred to House Rules Committee.
Criminal Background
Checks
HB 1846 (Cross)
Amends the Park District
Code and the Chicago
Park District Act. Provides
that when a prospective
park district employee
submits his or her
required authorization for
a background investigation, the park district may
(now, shall) submit the
applicant's name, sex,
race, date of birth, and
social security number to
the Department of State
Police for a criminal
history background
investigation. Provides
that this investigation is
not required for any
minor, seasonal employee,
or previously investigated
employee rehired with 18
months. Effective
immediately. Last Action: 4/6/01 Referred to House
Rules Committee.
DNR Budget
SB 1363 (Donahue-Rauschenberger-Karpiel)
Makes appropriations
and re-appropriations to
the Department of
Natural Resources for the
fiscal year beginning July
1, 2001. Effective July 1,
2001. Last Action: 3/29/01 Referred to Appropriations Committee.
Forest Preserves
HB 915 (Moore, A.)
Referendum Question
Format. Amends
Downstate Forest Preserve
District Act; allows a
forest preserve district to
increase its tax levy by
submitting the question to
the voters of the district; specifies information to
be included on ballot. 3/28/01 Passed out of
House with a vote of 104-10. Last Action: 5/3/01
Passed both houses.
12 | Illinois Parks and Recreation
ISSUES AND INSIGHTS FROM THE LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE SCENE
IMRF
HB 209 (Curry)
Amends IMRF Pension
Code; provides a
program of group health
benefits for retired
employees and their
dependents and survivors.
Last Action: 3/16/01
Assigned to House Rules
Committee.
Kids Share
HB 1886 (Wojcik)
New Act; the Kids Share
Endowment Authority
and Program; sets board
of directors, specifies
membership, powers and
duties; local community
collaborations may apply
for such grants; specifies
guidelines; establishes
such a Fund in the State
Treasury; directs state
treasurer and comptroller
to transfer 1/3 of
Tobacco Settlement
Recovery Fund deposits in
FY 2002 & 2003 into the
Fund. 4/4/01 Passed out
of the House with a vote
of 100-3. Last Action: 4/10/01 Referred to
Senate Rules Committee.
Open Meetings
HB 3098 (Dart)
Amends the Open
Meetings Act. Removes the
requirement that minutes
of a closed meeting be
written, and permits that
the minutes be recorded
by an audio or video
method or by a court
reporter. Requires that a
public body keep
verbatim minutes of a
closed meeting. Permits
disclosure of those
minutes only as the public
body determines or for a
court's in camera review
when the meeting is
alleged to have violated
the Act. Effective
immediately. Last Action:
5/2/01 Assigned to
Senate Executive
Committee.
Open Space
HB 2054 (Moore, A.)
Creates the Land
Preservation Initiative Act,
and amends Election
Code; provides for
statewide advisory
referendum at 2002
general election as to
whether the state should
increase state sales tax by 2/10 of 1% to fund a
program to preserve
state's open space. 4/3/01 Passed out of the
House with a vote of 83-30. Last Action: 4/4/01
Referred to Senate Rules
Committee.
OSLAD
HB 553 (Franks)
Amends Open Space
Lands Acquisition and
Development Act; authorizes grants for
buying and developing
rights, defines such; amends counties,
townships, municipal, and
certain related codes and
acts; authorizes the
buying of real property
development rights. Last
Action: 3/16/01
Assigned to House Rules.
Park District License
Plates
HB 3016 (Crotty-Bassi)
Provides for issuance of
Park District Youth
Program license plates, at
an additional initial
charge of $40 and an
additional renewal charge
of $27. Provides that $15
of the additional initial
charge and $2 of the
renewal charge shall go to
the Secretary of State
Special License Plate Fund.
Provides that $25 of the
initial and renewal
charges shall be deposited
into the Park District
Youth Program Fund.
Creates the Park District
Youth Program Fund as a
special fund in the State
Treasury. Provides that all
moneys in the Park District
Youth Program Fund shall
be paid as grants to the
Illinois Association of Park
Districts, a not-for-profit
corporation, for grants to
Illinois park districts and
recreation agencies
providing innovative
after-school programming
for Illinois youth. 3/20/01 Passed out of the
House with a vote of 104-7. Last Action: Referred
to Senate Rules Committee.
Property Tax Code
SB 450 (Peterson, W.)
Provides that a taxing
district may intervene in
any case in which an
objection is filed against
the taxing district's levy
by filing an appearance
in the case with notice.
Provides that the taxing
district is then responsible
for defending the levy
and the State's Attorney
is relieved of the defense.
Provides that the taxing
district may also then
participate in the court
conference with the
objector. Last Action:
5/3/01 Referred to
House Rules Committee.
Taxpayer Refunds
SB 206 (Roskam-O'Malley)
Amends the Property Tax
Code with respect to tax
objections. Provides that
if, as a result of an
objection filed by a
taxpayer, a court or the
Property Tax Appeal
Board determines that a
tax is invalid or that an
error occurred that
caused other taxpayers in
the taxing district in
addition to the objector
to pay more than they
would have been
required to pay if the
error had not occurred,
the court shall order a
refund by each affected
taxing district to each
taxpayer who overpaid
property taxes as a result
of the invalid tax or the
error. This change applies
to objections filed on or
after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of
the 92nd General
Assembly. Amends the
State Mandates Act to
require implementation
without reimbursement
from the state. Last
Action: 4/6/01 Held on
third reading in the
Senate pending hearings
during the summer of
2001.
Real Estate
SB 915 (Shadid)
Provides that any park
district owning and
holding real estate is
authorized to give, sell, or
lease that property to the
State, with State to
consent, for public use; if
such transactions occur,
the conveyance must
provide that ownership
reverts to the park district
if the grantee knowingly
allows the property to be
used for other purposes.
Passed out of the Senate
on 3/8/01 with a vote of
56-0-0. Last Action: 4/26/01 Held on House
Calendar Second
Reading.
SRAs
SB 755 (Parker, K.)
Amends Park District and
Municipal Codes; authorizes joint buying of
real estate by gift, legacy,
grant, or purchase for
recreational programs for
the handicapped by two
or more park districts, or
in counties under 300,000
people, by a park district
and other local government. Last Action: 5/8/01
Placed on House Calendar
- Short debate.
MUSEUM GRANTS
Governor George H. Ryan announced $10 million in
capital grants to 39 public museums to assist in
developing new exhibits and improving museum
facilities.
Museums that are operated by or located on land
owned by a unit of local government, have at least one
paid professional staff person, and have been open to
the public for two years are eligible to apply. State
grant funds reimburse up to one-third of the cost of
capital improvement projects, with the museums
providing the balance of the funding through local or
private support.
Ryan also announced $4.8 million in operating
grants to 85 museums to enhance their education
programs. Both programs are administered by the
Department of Natural Resources. For more information, contact the Illinois State Museum Grants
Program office at 217.782.5992, or visit the Illinois
State Museum Web site at http://www.museum.state.il.us/programs/musgrants/mgrants.html.
Adler Planetarium
(Chicago) $700,000 Renovation of original Sky Theater,
and the new StarRider Theater, an interactive virtual reality
experience.
Art Institute of Chicago
(Chicago) $835,000 Project includes redesign of the
Michigan Avenue lobby; expansion of the museum's prints
and drawings department; and renovation of Fullerton
Hall.
Brookfield Zoo
(Brookfield) $835,000 Explore! A Child's Nature Phase II -
This phase includes interior exhibit work, landscaping,
interpretive signs, perimeter fencing, a new ticketing
system, building electricity and fire detection systems.
Burpee Museum of Natural History
(Rockford) $195,000 The geology exhibit will use state-of-the-art DVD presentations. Also being funded is a biology
exhibit featuring three ecosystem dioramas.
Chicago Botanic Garden
(Glencoe) $835,000 Evening Island Phase II - Development
May/June 2001 | 13
STATEHOUSE INSIDER
includes construction of
paths, stairs, walls, a
plaza and related
landscaping.
Chicago Children's
Museum
(Chicago) $170,870
Safety Neighborhood
Exhibit - New exhibit is
designed to suggest the
appearance of a house
and backyard featuring
safety messages and
related activities.
Children's Discovery
Museum
(Bloomington) $70,000
This project begins
construction of a new
museum building.
Children's Museum of Illinois
(Decatur) $5,660 Funding allows for enhancement of five current exhibits and the rebuilding of one exhibit currently in storage.
Cosley Zoo
(Wheaton) $75,000 The
project will provide for
new signs for interpretive,
identification, directional,
regulation and donor
recognition within the
zoo complex.
Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center
(Crystal Lake) $11,000
Renovation includes roof
replacement, installation
of carpeting.
Discovery Center Museum
(Rockford) $71,000
Project funds will be used
for renovation of a
2,500-sqare-foot gallery.
DuPage County
Historical Museum
(Wheaton) $89,500
Grant funds will be used
for the replacement of the
existing deteriorating
asphalt roof.
Ellwood House Museum
(DeKalb) $40,000 This
project includes restoration of a 700-ft. cast iron
fence and additional
design services for all project components.
Field Museum
(Chicago) $835,000
Phase II - Infrastructure
improvements.
Klehm Arboretum
(Rockford) $35,000 Phase
I - Improvements to the
Children's Garden.
Lakeview Museum of
Arts and Sciences
(Peoria) $7,300 Expansion and improvements to
the museum's hands-on
learning area.
Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature
Center
(Springfield) $85,000
Project includes enlargement of the exhibit room.
Lincoln Park Zoo
(Chicago) $835,000 The
renovation project
includes architectural,
structural, mechanical,
and plumbing work to
allow later installation of
exhibits.
Little White School
Museum
(Oswego) $7,460 The
project includes installation of a wheelchair lift.
Museum of Science and
Industry
(Chicago) $835,000 This
funding will provide the
detailed design and
construction planning for
permanent enclosure of
the U-505 German WWII
U-Boat.
Naper Settlement
(Naperville) $200,000
This project involves
replacement of the slate
roof, restoration of the
home's three porches.
River Trail Nature
Center
(Northbrook) $62,500 A
3,000-square-foot
addition to the existing
small public space at the
nature center will house
an open classroom/activity space.
Riverfront Museum Park
(Rockford) $100,000 The
project involves modifications to the museum's
climate control.
Scovill Zoo
(Decatur) $83,000 This
project is part of a
multicomponent plan
designed to expand the
zoo by presenting animals
in their natural setting
and providing more
spacious exhibits.
Shedd Aquarium
(Chicago) $835,000 The
funding is for a new
south wing to house a
250,000-gallon tank that
will be home to 17 species
of sharks.
Skokie Heritage
Museum
(Skokie) $75,000
Construction of a 1,500-square-foot two-story
frame structure to be used
as an archival storage
unit.
Stephenson County
Historical Museum
(Freeport) $8,290 Farm
and Industrial Museum
Improvement Project.
Tinker Swiss Cottage
Museum
(Rockford) $58,000 The
project includes the
interior finishing of the
first and second floors for
use as classrooms.
Walter E Heller Nature
Center
(Batavia) $24,600 The
project adds new
environmental education
elements to the center's
existing school and public
programs.
Wilmette Historical
Museum (Wilmette)
$75,000 The project will
provide additional display
space, a meeting room for
educational programs.
Operating Grants
• Adler Planetarium
(Chicago) $121,796
• Anita Purves Nature Center
(Urbana) $9,640
• Arlington Heights Historical Museum
(Arlington Heights) $9,640
• Art Institute of Chicago
(Chicago) $482,000
• Bloomingdale Park
District Museum
(Bloomingdale) $9,640
• Brookfield Zoo
(Brookfield) $482,000
• Burpee Museum of
Natural History
(Rockford) $11,315
• Cabin Nature Center
(Wood Dale) $9,640
• Chicago Botanic
Garden
(Glencoe) $277,730
• Chicago Children's
Museum
(Chicago)
$86,097
• Children's Discovery
Museum
(Bloomington)
$9,640
• Children's Museum of Illinois
(Decatur) $9,640
• Cosley Zoo
(Wheaton) $9,640
• Crystal Lake Park
District Nature Center
(Crystal Lake) $9,640
• Discovery Center
Museum
(Rockford) $10,730
• DuPage Children's
Museum
(Naperville) $14,467
• DuPage County Historical Museum
(Wheaton) $9,640
• Durant House Museum
(St. Charles) $9,640
• Ellwood House
Museum (DeKalb) $9,640
• Elmhurst Historical
Museum
(Elmhurst)
$9,640
• Field Museum
(Chicago) $482,000
• Flagg Creek Museum
(Burr Ridge) $9,640
• Freeport Arts Center
(Freeport) $9,640
• Glen Oak Zoo
(Peoria) $9,640
• The Grove
(Glenview)
$9,640
• Klehm Arboretum
(Rockford) $9,640
• Kohl Children's
Museum
(Wilmette) $29,458
• Lake County Discovery Museum
(Wauconda) $9,640
• Lakeview Museum of
Arts and Sciences
(Peoria) $16,823
• Lincoln Memorial
Garden and Nature Center
(Springfield)
$9,640
• Lincoln Park Zoo
(Chicago) $262,698
• Lincoln's New Salem
(Petersburg) $18,031
• Morton Arboretum
(Lisle) $139,836
• Morton Grove
Historical Museum
(Morton Grove) $9,640
• Mount Prospect
Historical Society
(Mount Prospect) $9,640
• Museum of Science
and Industry
(Chicago)
$482,000
• Naper Settlement
(Naperville) $22,166
• Oak Park Conservatory
(Oak Park) $9,640
• Peck Farm Park
(Geneva) $9,640
• River Trail Nature Center
(Northbrook) $9,640
• Rockford Art Museum
(Rockford) $11,521
• Spring Valley Nature
Sanctuary
(Schaumburg) $9,640
• Walter E Heller Nature Center
(Batavia) $9,640
•
14 | Illinois Parks and Recreation
ISSUES & INSIGHTS FROM THE LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE SCENE
April 3, 2001 Referendum Results
Below is a report of select referenda (those affecting park districts and forest preserves) submitted to the voters
for the General Election held April 3, 2001. The data was obtained from election authorities and jurisdictional canvassing board abstracts.
| Type |
#Proposals |
Pass/Fail |
| Taxes |
125 |
54/71 |
| Bonds |
72 |
47/25 |
| Miscellaneous |
59 |
27/32 |
| Advisory |
38 |
13/25 |
|
| Type |
#Proposals |
Pass/Fail |
| School |
89 |
48/41 |
| County |
13 |
9/4 |
| Township/Road |
43 |
6/37 |
| City/Village/Town |
76 |
45/31 |
| Park District Issues |
29 |
6/23 |
| Miscellaneous |
73 |
33/40 |
| Bonds (School) |
49 |
35/14 |
|
| Park and Forest Preserve District Referenda Results |
| COUNTY |
DISTRICT |
TYPE |
DESCRIPTION |
PASS/FAIL |
VOTES YES/NO |
| Cook/Lake |
Buffalo Grove PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Buffalo Grove PD be authorized to levy and collect an additional tax of .19% for the purpose of recreational programs |
Failed |
2,856/3,853 |
| DuPage |
Burr Ridge PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Burr Ridge PD be authorized to levy and
collect an additional tax of .17% for the purpose of
recreational programs |
Failed |
553/670 |
| DuPage |
Carol Stream PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Carol Stream PD be authorized to levy and
collect an additional tax of not to exceed .075% for all
corporate purposes
|
Failed |
1633/2118 |
| McHenry |
Crystal Lake PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Crystal Lake PD be authorized to levy and
collect an additional tax of .05% for the purpose of
recreational programs |
Failed |
3,155/4,304 |
| Kane/Cook |
Dundee Township PD |
Bonds |
Shall bonds or notes of the Dundee Township PD to
the amount of Fourteen Million Dollars ($14,000,000)
be issued for the purpose of paying costs of construction of a
new adult/senior activity center, construction of a new receation
center and necessary site work at Randall Oaks Park, and improvements
to the indoor swimming pool at the existing Recreation Center in and for said
park district? |
Failed |
3,037/3,419 |
| Ogle |
Flagg-Rochelle PD |
Taxes |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
| Lake |
Grayslake PD |
Bonds |
Shall bonds of the Grayslake Community PD to the
amount of Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) be issued
for the purpose of purchasing land for open space and recreation
purposes, improving the land, developing, constructing and
equipping a family recreation and fitness center, and playing the expenses incident thereto?
|
Failed |
1781/2686 |
| Lake |
Huntley PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Huntley PD in order to provide a retirement
fund for eligible employees be authorized and empowered to
levy and collect an additional tax of .03% of the equalized
assessed value of said district for the purpose of the payment of
the district's cost for participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund |
Failed |
1200/1600 |
| Cook |
Justice PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Justice PD be authorized to lew and collect an
additional tax of .15% for the purpose of recreational programs |
Failed |
154/434 |
- continued on page 16 -
May/June 2001 | 15
STATEHOUSE INSIDER
| Park and Forest Preserve District Referenda Results |
| COUNTY |
DISTRICT |
TYPE |
DESCRIPTION |
PASS/FAIL |
VOTES YES/NO |
| Cook |
Maywood PD |
Misc |
Shall the corporate authorities of the Village of Maywood
consider adopting a resolution to support dissolution of
the Maywood Park District |
PASSED |
815/629 |
| McHenry |
McHenry County Conservation District |
Bonds |
Shall the McHenry County Conservation District acquire
and improve land in order to preserve groundwater recharge
areas to protect clean water supply; preserve open space in order to
limit sprawl; protect wooded areas, prairies, wetlands, and streams as natural
areas and wildlife habitats; enhance flood control; and provide recreational
opportunities such as trails, fishing, bird watching, and camping; and issue general
obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $68,500,000 for paying the costs thereof? |
PASSED |
20,464/19,089 |
| Kendall |
Oswegoland PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Oswegoland PD be authorized to levy and collect
an additional tax of not to exceed .25% for all corporate purposes |
Failed |
1,974/2,174 |
| Cook |
River Forest PD |
Bonds |
Shall the bonds of the River Forest PD to the amount of, One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,800,000)
be issued for the purpose of purchasing and improving land for
District parks and facilities? |
Failed |
1,027/668 |
| Cook |
River Forest PD |
Taxes |
Shall the River Forest PD be authorized to levy and collect
an additional tax not to exceed .07% for all corporate purposes |
Failed |
855/820 |
| DuPage |
Roselle PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Roselle PD be authorized to levy and collect
an additional tax of not to exceed 0.188% for all corporate
purposes, including maintenance of facilities and open space
and rebuilding the pool |
Failed |
1,068/1,336 |
| Madison |
Tri-Township PD |
Taxes |
Shall the Tri-Township PD be authorized to levy and
collect an additional tax of not to exceed .25% for the purpose
of recreational programs |
Failed |
376/3787 |
| Monroe |
Waterloo PD |
Taxes |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
| Lake |
Wauconda PD |
Bonds |
Shall the bonds of the Wauconda PD to the amount of
Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000)
be issued for the purpose of improving the site of and constructing
and equipping a Family Aquatic Center, and paying the expenses incident thereto? |
PASSED |
801/1,592 |
| DuPage |
West Chicago PD |
Taxes |
Shall the West Chicago PD be authorized to levy
and collect an additional tax of not to exceed .025% for
all corporate purposes |
Failed |
1,171/2,836 |
| Cook |
Winnetka PD |
Bonds |
Shall bonds of the Winnetka PD in the amount of Nine
Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($9,800,000)
be issued for the purpose of constructing, furnishing and
equipping a recreation center including offices and an indoor pool,
on property located at Oak Street and Hibbard Road in the Village of
Winnetka commonly known as Skokie Playfield? |
Failed |
1,551/1,827 |
| Cook |
Winnetka PD |
Bonds |
Shall bonds of the Winnetka PD to the amount of Six Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,100,000) be issued for
the purposes of constructing, furnishing and equipping an outdoor
swimming pool on property located off Willow Road and commonly
known as Duke Childs Field, and constructing, furnishing and equipping
offices on property located at Oak Street and Hibbard Road, commonly
known as Skokie Playfield, all in the Village of Winnetka? |
Failed |
2,088/2,232
|
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